I’d like to direct a film in the future, says Pankaj
After tasting big success with Stree, Pankaj Tripathi is busy with Luka Chuppi and the Shakeela biopic. Talking about being part of multiple hit films since the last two years, he says, “It feels good, since I have worked sincerely and hard. I feel humbled as people have liked my work. Luck does play a role because if you are getting good scripts, then you are lucky.”
Though Pankaj is humbled about all the work and appreciation coming his way, he adds that juggling so many characters can be taxing. “It is very tough, which is why I have decided to work less from now on. Every day I am playing a different character on a different set. I am away from home for 40 to 50 days. I’ve been a theatre actor and after working for the past 20 years now, I’ve been able to manage it somehow,” says the Fukrey Returns (2017) actor.
However, prod him about the toughest character he has portrayed on screen, and he says that his roles in the film Gurgaon (2017) and the web series Powder were very challenging. He adds, “In a way, every role comes with it’s own set of challenges, and I try to make my character as lively and human as I can. I improvise a lot and also lend small inputs while on the set. I am a director’s actor, but the kind of challenge that I am looking for, hasn’t come to me yet. ”
Pankaj admits that he gets a lot requests from film-makers asking him to repeat a similar performance of a popular character from his previous films. “I tell them politely that I’ve already done such roles. If I keep playing repetitive parts, I will get bored and so will my audience. I always want to do roles that are new, different, and that would surprise me and my audience. Sometimes, it is rare to get those roles. So, you either sit at home for months waiting for interesting roles or do repetitive ones. I try to make each character look different by making them more interesting,” says the Bareilly Ki Barfi (2017) actor.
Besides Hindi, Pankaj has acted in Punjabi films as well and has also received offers from Bengali film industry. “I don’t have enough time to take up those projects,” the actor says adding that he is also interested in writing and direction. “I would like to direct a film in the future,” he concludes.
I always want to do roles that are new and different. Sometimes, it is rare to get those roles. So, you either sit at home for months waiting or you do repetitive ones. PANKAJ TRIPATHI, ACTOR